Foot-blocking for guard-rails.



No. 7132;511. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903. E. A. BOWERS. v

FOOT BLOCKING FOR GUARD RAILS. APPLIUATIOH I'ILBD APB.'20, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

MW w w UNITED STATES Patented .Iune 30, 1903. PATENT OFFICE EBENEZER A. BOVVERS, OF LUOERNE, MISSOURI.

FOOT-BLOCKING FORG UARD-RAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent N 0. 732,511, dated June 30, 1903. Application filed April 20, 1903. SerialNo. 153,380. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBENEZER A. BowERs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at quickly or easily withdrawn.

may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in Which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a track-rail and a guard-rail with afoot-block embodying.

1 myinvention interposed and secured between them. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section.

taken on the line 11 II of-Figt 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the rail and the contiguous ends of the guardrail and foot-block.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the of the block, as at 5, and at the inner cor ners of the blockit is provided with enlargements or shoulders 6, bearing squarely against the ends of the guard-rail. The block fits snugly between the base and head flanges of the rails, as well as against the webs thereof, and in its upper side is channeled 0r grooved, as at 7, this channel or groove being sufficiently deep at its shallowest point to accommodate the wheel-flanges. At suitable distances from the ends of the block this groove 7 begins to gradually deepen and increases in depth to its ends, as at 8, leaving the block at each end of U shape in cross-section, the upwardly-projecting arms of the U'having their inner sides approximately flush with the inner sides of the heads of the rails, so as to eliminate anypossibility of ones foot being caught and wedged tightly between the rails.

The foot-block is secured reliably between and under the heads of the rails by means of bolts 9, extending through the rails and the foot-block, the inner ends of the bolts being engaged by retainingnuts 10 of the usual or any preferred construction. Y

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the provision of a solid foot-block of greater length than and having shoulders bearing against the ends of the guard-rail and united to the latter and to the track-rail by cross-bolts produces an exceedingly strong and durable structure and that the peculiar shape of the foot-block and its relation to the rails practically eliminate the chance of a switchman or other person getting his foot caught in such a manner that he cannot readily disengage it.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In foot-blocking for guard-rails, the combination of a track-rail, a guard-rail inward thereof, and a foot-block fitting between said rails, and having inwardly-projecting shoulders at its opposite ends engaging the ends of the guard-rail.

2. In foot-blocking for guard-rails,the combination of a track-rail, a guard-rail inward thereof, and a foot-block fitting between said rails, and having inwardly-projecting shoulders at its opposite ends engaging the ends of the guard-rail, and provided with a groove or channel in its upper sides corresponding I in width to the distance between the inner sides of the rails, and increasing gradually in depth from suitable points to its ends.

3. A foot-block which increases in width gradually at its ends, is provided at its inner corners with inwardly-projecting shoulders, and is provided in its upper side with a groove or channel which increases in width and in depth at its ends. :0

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EBENEZER A. BOWERS. Witnesses:

WILLIAM EVANS, CLINTON DICKERSON. 

